Capacity Building for Aflatoxin Management and Control in Groundnuts

Abstract

This terminal project evaluation was undertaken by an independent evaluator recruited by UNIDO, Ms. Jayanthi Aniruth, in the period January-February 2012. The fieldwork in Malawi was undertaken between 23-27 January and gathered information from a variety of project stakeholders. Telephonic interviews and electronic interactions with UNIDO personnel were conducted during February 2012.

The evaluation was undertaken in order to assess the outputs and the outcomes achieved by the project in order to inform the project implementing agents and funders about the level of success attained within and by the project. In addition, the evaluation was commissioned in order to gather up to date information to feed into the decision on whether a second phase of the project should be undertaken. The evaluation therefore sought out lessons and experiences in order to guide a possible redesign in the second phase of the project.

The purpose of the evaluation, as stated in the Terms of Reference, is to enable the donors, UNIDO, counterpart organisations and the government of Malawi to: (a) Assess the outputs produced and outcomes achieved and to compare these to the planned outputs and outcomes: (b) (b) Verify prospects for development impact and sustainability. (c) Assess the efficiency of implementation in terms of the quantity, quality, cost and timeliness of UNIDO and counterpart inputs and activities. (d) Provide an analytical basis and recommendations for the focus and design for the possible continuation of the project in a next phase (if applicable). (e) Draw lessons of wider application for the replication of the experience gained in this project in other projects and countries.

The project contributed to the realisation of the Agricultural Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) within Malawi, which is aligned to the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy. The ASWap seeks to increase the total value of agricultural exports by commodity, including the export of groundnuts. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy and employs approximately 80 percent of the workforce. Groundnuts account for 25% of the income of smallholder farmers and are an important aspect of household food security. Groundnuts are therefore crucial to the livelihoods strategy of smallholder farmers in Malawi. The UNIDO project, which built the capacity of these smallholder farmers to produce aflatoxin free groundnuts, will therefore contribute to improving the nutritional and health status of poor Malawian farming families, in addition to maximising the income that they can earn from their Groundnut crops.